Chile is a fantastic place and full of surprises. Before coming to Santiago I had imagined it having a strong Mexican influence, I was terribly mistaken. The food, language, and heritage is nothing like Mexico and entirely derives from Spain. Lena, Lewis, and I are staying in Mr. and Mrs. Roig’s house. We get a superb breakfast with homemade jellies, bread, avocado, and a special queso from the south.
After a few days of activities with the local congregation members we traveled 700 kilometers south to Temuco. The south of Chile is notorious for being much colder and very rainy compared to Santiago, one of the locals in Temuco said it is not unusual to get nine months of rain per year.
Our mission was to repair a house for a couple living in the small town of Victoria, just outside of Temuco. The house was built three years ago and was never finished. None of the doors would close properly and one of them wasn’t hung at all. There was a wall and ceiling that needed completed as well as windows and doors needing foamed for the elements. We had plenty of hands and it was a relief to see everybody stay busy. Some people cooked excellent food (including fresh sopaipillas), some kept the children happy and others diligently hammered away. Church in Temuco takes place in a nice hotel and the record was set at nearly thirty attendees. Following services we got to sit in a circle with the local members and share stories about ourselves and our histories. It was humbling to hear how some people have endured tremendous trials and to be reminded of the graciousness of God. We had a farewell party after work on Sunday and spent all day Monday traveling back to camp.